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Searchers find body of 1 of 2 missing boaters

News Release

Wednesday, January 02, 2013

Media contact: Joy Hill, 352-258-3426

At around 5 p.m. Wednesday, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officers searching Lake Jesup found the body of Jason M. Cobb, 30, of Osteen, one of two men who have been missing since Saturday. Cobb’s body was found floating near Bird Island in approximately six feet of water.

There were no apparent signs of trauma to the body.

Cobb and Charles T. Jackson, 26, of Deltona were reported missing on December 29 when they did not return home from a boating trip on Lake Jesup. The two men had launched at Lemon Bluff about 5:30 p.m. and drove the boat across the lake to Black Hammock fish camp. The two reportedly left Black Hammock in the boat around 1:30 a.m. December 29, heading back to Lemon Bluff, and hadn’t been seen since.

A friend found the empty vessel about 12 hours later, about ¾ mile north of Black Hammock, on the north shoreline of Lake Jesup. FWC investigators suspect the men were somehow ejected from the vessel. There were two life jackets, two paddles and keys to their truck found on the boat.

The FWC, Seminole County Sheriff’s Office and Volusia County Sheriff’s Office have been searching by vessel, helicopter, fixed-wing aircraft and on foot since Saturday afternoon. In addition, hundreds of friends and family of the men organized their own searches.

“We know how difficult this has been for the family and friends of Jason and Charles, and while this is not the result we all had hoped for, it does at least bring some closure to Jason’s family and friends,” said Lt. Jeff Hudson, FWC incident commander.

Search efforts will continue tonight and tomorrow for Jackson.

FWC Facts:A law enforcement officer may stop any vessel to check for compliance with boating safety equipment requirements.